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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I don’t want to be a negative Nancy (Nancy, a common name, unlike so many odd names in this story. I like odd, but this kind of odd was almost uncomfortable), but this book was not a “good read”. It took me 4 attempts to make it passed the first 50 pages. AND, the thing is I so desperately wanted to love this book! I from Appalachia. I LOVE reading the stories of people who grew up in the same area. Even when the stories are tough or sad they’ve still managed to relate to me and teach me more about an area I love. I currently live with a Minnesotan and over the years I’ve learned there’s more to them then “uftah” “you betcha” and “dontcha know”. I wanted this book to shed a little insight on the people and personalities I love, but are so different from me and my family. This book did NOT do that. Not one character was likable. It seemed the author enjoyed sharing recipes more than creating characters the reader can relate to, root for or just enjoy. I wish I could end on a positive, but the only redeeming quality this book has is that it’s over.
3.5 Fun story with interlocking chapters - each one is a standalone, but each person somehow intersects with Eva as she grows up and becomes a world-renown, albeit mysterious chef.
fast-paced
Ok, I am so disappointed in myself that I didn't write a review as soon as I finished this. One-star reviews are one of the great joys of Goodreads!
I only have a couple of things in my notes, and my library hold expired, otherwise I would go back and hate-skim.
I felt like this book got off to a good enough start. I am not usually a fan of the "different character per chapter" but it kind of worked here? once it got going. In the beginning, I would read a chapter thinking, ok, this is the main character. Then after the next chapter, it was, oh wait, it's this one. Then, still, another chapter and character, oh it must be this one. So it took a while to zero in on Eva. Fine. As the book wound along, the stories were interesting, enough to keep my attention and to wonder what happened next. But then the story really fell flat. Storylines were left hanging and the wrapping up and tying everything together in one grand $$$$ meal was eye-rolling.
I did note two particularly maddening scenes:
The scene where Braque is entering passwords into her computer infuriated me. The author takes the time and sentences to explain that she (Braque) *had to* wait until her college roommate left the room before typing her computer passwords. THAT'S NOT HOW ROOMMATES OR PASSWORDS WORK. The roommate wasn't peering over her shoulder. The roommate seemed to go about her business and not be constantly squinting her eyes from across the room to find out Braque's passwords. This made no sense and drew attention to a detail that not only wasn't important, but was weird and unrealistic.
When church lady Pat Prager's peanut butter bars were entered into a contest where most of the other food was high brow, vegan, organic, every foodie buzzword, etc. they were a runaway success! Certainly that is possible, but the other contestants at the contest were perplexed! By the use of...sugar? and other simple ingredients. Isn't it organic? Isn't it ___ whatever? I thought it was patronizing and super insulting to the foodie characters because of course they wouldn't be surprised by sugar. They know what sugar is. This was weird.
The big finale, the big, unrealistically expensive meal at the end where the characters all happen to gather and the simple midwest recipes that they've shared with Eva get elevated to a snooty revered status is just too precious. Nothing is wrapped up, nothing is resolved, it's weird and awkward.
Oh! And this book does that thing that books sometimes do that I HATE: the reader is privvy to information that the characters aren't. And this information is SO BIG AND LIFE ALTERING but the character who could benefit from this knowledge never knows and we are supposed to just delight? in this secret knowledge.
I only have a couple of things in my notes, and my library hold expired, otherwise I would go back and hate-skim.
I felt like this book got off to a good enough start. I am not usually a fan of the "different character per chapter" but it kind of worked here? once it got going. In the beginning, I would read a chapter thinking, ok, this is the main character. Then after the next chapter, it was, oh wait, it's this one. Then, still, another chapter and character, oh it must be this one. So it took a while to zero in on Eva. Fine. As the book wound along, the stories were interesting, enough to keep my attention and to wonder what happened next. But then the story really fell flat. Storylines were left hanging and the wrapping up and tying everything together in one grand $$$$ meal was eye-rolling.
I did note two particularly maddening scenes:
The scene where Braque is entering passwords into her computer infuriated me. The author takes the time and sentences to explain that she (Braque) *had to* wait until her college roommate left the room before typing her computer passwords. THAT'S NOT HOW ROOMMATES OR PASSWORDS WORK. The roommate wasn't peering over her shoulder. The roommate seemed to go about her business and not be constantly squinting her eyes from across the room to find out Braque's passwords. This made no sense and drew attention to a detail that not only wasn't important, but was weird and unrealistic.
When church lady Pat Prager's peanut butter bars were entered into a contest where most of the other food was high brow, vegan, organic, every foodie buzzword, etc. they were a runaway success! Certainly that is possible, but the other contestants at the contest were perplexed! By the use of...sugar? and other simple ingredients. Isn't it organic? Isn't it ___ whatever? I thought it was patronizing and super insulting to the foodie characters because of course they wouldn't be surprised by sugar. They know what sugar is. This was weird.
The big finale, the big, unrealistically expensive meal at the end where the characters all happen to gather and the simple midwest recipes that they've shared with Eva get elevated to a snooty revered status is just too precious. Nothing is wrapped up, nothing is resolved, it's weird and awkward.
Oh! And this book does that thing that books sometimes do that I HATE: the reader is privvy to information that the characters aren't. And this information is SO BIG AND LIFE ALTERING but the character who could benefit from this knowledge never knows and we are supposed to just delight? in this secret knowledge.
The five-star rating kind of snuck up on me. I didn't give it because this is a huge, epic story, but because it is a small, epic story. The life of Eva Thorvald is told from before her birth into her adulthood, not in a linear fashion but by telling the stories of people around her. Not the people you'd expect, but the people we all have in our lives: people who know us for a while, then move out of our spheres, then somehow find their way back in. People with interesting stories of their own. That is the genius of this narrative: it reminds us that we are not alone in the world, that we are not the only people with a story. In fact, Eva's story isn't even all that remarkable, except that countless people with a special talent never find a way to express and capitalize on that talent, due to circumstances or bad breaks or timing, or myriad other reasons. So maybe the fact that Eva is born with a talent and uses it and meets people who recognize it and are in a position to help her develop it, is kind of remarkable. The story comes full circle, and even though it only took me a few days to churn through this, I didn't recognize the closing of the circle right away. But that doesn't matter, because the totality of the story is so great, the tiny flaws just kind of fall away. Excellent read, I'll be giving it away sometime for sure!
Ehhh.... good writing but I wasn't very interested or invested in any of the characters
This is such a beautifully written book about how food brings people together. I loved all different perspectives this book shares.
Interesting things about this book:
-The writing structure was different from most other things I’ve ever read, which I appreciated.
-I loved how it all tied together all the characters at the end
-I am obsessed with food narratives, especially when food pulls people together. I also used to live in South Dakota so a lot of the references felt familiar.
Things I did not like about this book:
-I felt the “male gaze” dominated this book and it was really distracting for me. Especially during the chapters from a woman’s point of view, it was so obvious to me that the author was a man. Peoples appearances dominated every interaction and it really bothered me.
- There wasn’t a character I was particularly rooting for, and the “main” character kind of had an unbelievable story arc.
All in all, the cons unfortunately outweighed the pros.
-The writing structure was different from most other things I’ve ever read, which I appreciated.
-I loved how it all tied together all the characters at the end
-I am obsessed with food narratives, especially when food pulls people together. I also used to live in South Dakota so a lot of the references felt familiar.
Things I did not like about this book:
-I felt the “male gaze” dominated this book and it was really distracting for me. Especially during the chapters from a woman’s point of view, it was so obvious to me that the author was a man. Peoples appearances dominated every interaction and it really bothered me.
- There wasn’t a character I was particularly rooting for, and the “main” character kind of had an unbelievable story arc.
All in all, the cons unfortunately outweighed the pros.
Really enjoyed this—the creativity of the format was a fun surprise and didn’t feel at all forced. Loved Eva and the way the author chose to reveal her life to us. And I’m definitely going to make those peanut butter bars.